When you buy a new PC, everything is perfect. Switching on takes (if using an SSD) about ten seconds at the most; the programs start almost instantaneously and there are no problems whatsoever. If you are not careful, however, it is an idyll that will not last long: various documents and files that we accumulate on the hard drive end up irremediably slowing down our device. And a slow PC makes us nervous and unproductive, especially if we use the device for work. Fortunately, however, a few simple operations are enough to speed up the PC.
The real enemy of the computer is the programs we install over time. The main bugs and slowdowns for a PC are often caused by software downloaded and then left unused to burden the memory of our device. Especially if we use the computer for work, we tend to download programs for photo editing, editing, or any other complex operation on a daily basis. These are applications that we may use only once, or a couple of times throughout the year. If possible, avoid installing this kind of programs and rely on online services that do not provide a download. We will avoid having a slow PC and getting sick.
It may seem incredible, yet slow PC can lead to the so-called hourglass syndrome: if we work with an unresponsive device, we tend to get sad. And to say it is a research carried out by Akamai Technologies. The study showed that 73% of people who use a slow device tend to feel unhappiness in 14% of cases and sadness in 8% of cases. In addition to frustration and a natural drop in attention.
Eliminate unnecessary programs and applications
In short, to avoid being sad at work we have to speed up the PC. The first step to do this is to eliminate old programs and applications that we no longer use. We can do it manually through the Control Panel, or we can rely on ad hoc applications, such as CCleaner. If for work or study, we tend to use very heavy programs we can think of relying on portable versions (or portable). These are applications that do not need to be installed but can be used “on the fly”. Just put the application on a USB key and insert it into your computer whenever you need it: double click on the program and you can use it whenever you want, without clogging up the internal memory of the computer.
Alternately, a device like Xtra PC can also be used to bypass the old operating system and replace it with a fast and secure Linux OS. To know more about the device, check how Xtra pc works?
How to disable programs at startup
One of the main causes of a slow PC is represented by the many programs that, once installed on the hard drive, start when the device is turned on. This means that the operating system must load them into memory in the very early stages of operation, thus postponing the moment in which the user can start using it. To speed up the computer, therefore, you will have to check the list of programs at startup and delete the non-essential ones: in the search field of the Start bar, type “System configuration”, open the application and then the “Start” tab. Here you will find the list of programs that start up when the PC is turned on (or a link to open “Task manager”): check the list and disable unnecessary applications.
Improve cybersecurity
Besides unused applications and junk files, one of the main reasons for a slow PC is malware. Viruses, by taking up system resources, can heavily affect the performance of our device. To find this malicious software, all we have to do is install a good antivirus, update it constantly and occasionally perform a thorough scan of the device.
Furthermore, we must never forget to always install updates to the operating system and programs on the PC. If we constantly update the antivirus, browsers, extensions, and applications, we will not have major problems with slowdowns and bugs. And above all, we will also improve the cybersecurity of our device. Updating all programs is a key operation to speed up a PC.
Format the computer
In case all the solutions listed above are not effective enough to get around the excessive slowdowns of our PC. In this case the action to be taken is a bit drastic: format the hard drive and install the operating system and software from scratch. Unlike what one might think, it is a rather simple operation to perform, but with some contraindications. For this it is a must to back up all our data. In this way we will avoid losing important photos, videos, and business documents.
Conclusion
Over time the various applications and saved documents tend to slow down the efficiency of our computer, mentioned above are the five actions to perform to speed up the PC.
